Internal combustion engine



June 2, 1954 R. E. HULTEN 3,135,254

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l ugaATTORNEY June 2, 1964 R. E. HULTEN INTERNAL coMBUs-:ON ENGINE 2SheebS-Sheek 2 Filed Aug. 3, 1961 I INVENTOR. fam iz/ez? ATTORNEY3,135,254 INTERNAL CIVIBUSTION ENGINE Richard E. Hulten, Pontiac, Mich.,assigner to Geuerai Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Aug. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 129,043

Claims. (Cl. 12S- 195) f This invention relates to internal combustionengines and more particularly to a means for lessening the amount of thematerial used in manufacturing the engine.

It is becoming more and more of a problem in the design and manufactureof internal combustion engines to provide a proper horsepower-to-weightratio with the various materials presently being'used in the forming ofsuch engines and at the same time to fit within the size requirementspresented. For example, a V-type internal combustion engine may be madeof aluminum, but requires a great deal of material in order to providethe.

proper strength. It is thus desirable to eliminate certain amounts ofthe aluminum wherever possible in order to cut down the size of thefinished product. Likewise, with an engine formed of cast iron it isdesirable to eliminate as much excess metal as possible so long asstrength is not sacrificed.

The device in which this invention is embodied comprises, generally, aninternal combustion engine having the usual pistons,.cylinders, valvesand camshaft, and in which a great amount of the material adjacent andabove the camshaft is eliminated. In order to accomplish this purpose,some means must be provided to guide and retain the valve lifters andvalve push rods atthe camshaft end., It is proposed to provide tubularmembers extending longitudinally of the engine, adjacent and parallel tothe usual camshaft, for this purpose. The tubular members may beprovided with valve lifter receiving openings and may be secured in theengine block so as to maintain the valve lifters in proper position withVrespect to the camshaft.

United States Patent O fromV the following description and drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE l is a viewV of a portion of an internal combustion engine withparts broken away and in section to show the various parts;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the engine shown in FIGURE1 to illustrate the camshaft and positioning of the tubular members;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tubular member mounting ofFIGURE 2 taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and lookingin the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is awtransverse cross-sectional view of the tubular member andmounting taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and lookingin the direction y of the arrows;

FIGURES is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the tubularmember taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 and looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a 'cross-sectional view of a portion of an engine such asillustrated in FIGURE l, showing a modified form of securing the tubularmembers in the engine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGURE 1 best shows theinternal combustion engine, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, inwhich the invention may 3,135,254 Patented June 2, 1964 ICC be embodied.Engine 10 is provided with an engine block 12 in which is formed a rowof cylinders 14, or parallel rows 14 and 16. Mounted in each cylinder 14is a piston 17 having the usual piston rings 18 and Vconnecting rod 20.Mounted above engine block 12 is a cylinder head 22 in which are mountedthe usual intake passages, as 24, and cooling passages, as 26, andexhaust passages, not shown. An intake manifold 28 is secured to thecylinder head 22 in any suitable manner and conveys the combustiblecharge through the intake passage 24 and to the combustion chamber 36. Asuitable spark plug 32 is disposed in the cylinder head 22 to ignite thecharge.

In order to permit the combustible charge to enter the combustionchamber 30, the usual intake valves, as 34, are provided in the cylinderVhead 22. A suitable exhaust valve is also provided in the well knownmanner. Valve 34 is driven through a rocker arm 36 that is pivotallysecured in the cylinder head 22, as by stud 38 and pivot member 40. Asuitable push rod 42 actuates the rocker arm 36 and causes the valve 34to open and close at the proper time.

Push rod 42 is actuated by camshaft 44 mounted longitudinally in theengine block 12. Camshaft 44 is provided with a plurality of cams, as46, causing valve lifter assemblies 43 to reciprocate the push rod 42.Valve lifters 4S may be of any wellknown construction.

The rocker arm gallery Sii, in which are disposed the rocker arms 36 forthe various valves, is covered by a sheet metal member 52 secured tocylinder head 22 in any suitable manner. A gasket 54 may be provided toseal the gallery 50.

Y Engine block 12 may be formed to provide one or more transverse walls56 extending across the space between rows of cylinders 14 and 16. Wall56 is provided with an aperture 58 permitting passage of the camshaft 44and is also provided with bosses 60. Mounted in bosses 60 are thetubular valve lifter guide members, illustrated generally by the numeral62.V Guide `members 62 extend longitudinally of the engine block 12vandare substantially parallel to the camshaft 44. These members will behereinafter more fully described.

In between the end walls of the engine block 12 and the transverse walls56, the block 12 is open to the crankcase extending along the bottom ofthe engine 10. In order to cover this area a sheet metal cover 64 isprovided which extends between the opposite cylinder heads 22 andlongitudinally of the engine. A suitable boss 66 may be formed in thewall or Walls 56 to receivel a stud 63, clamping the gallerycover 64against the cylinder heads 22, as at 69. Cover 64 thus protects theinterior of the engine block 12 and the usual crankshaft and crankcasetherebeneath.

In FIGURES 3 5, the tubular valve lifter guide members 62 are 'bestshown. Members 62 may Vhave cylindrical portions, as at ends 70 andintermediate portions 72 and 74. Portions 72 lare provided withtransverse apertures 76 which receive the valve lifters 4S and maintainthe valve lifters in proper location and angularity with respect tothecamshaft 44. In between the portions 70 and 72, and 72 and 74 thetubular members 62 may be indented, as at 78, to add to the strengththereof. The ends of the tubular members 62 may be plugged by sheetmetal cups 80, or the like, in the well known manner.

In order to secure the tubular members 62 in the engine block 12, bossesS2 may be formed in the transverse walls 56. A locking bolt 84 isthreaded through the boss 82 and has an unthreaded end 86 which may bereceived in a suitable hole 88 in the tubular member 62. The tubularmember 62 is thus secured against rotation and against lateral orlongitudinal movement by the bolt 84.

The tubular members 62 pass through suitable apertures 90 formed throughthe bosses 60 in the transverse wall 56.

Another method of securing the tubular` members 62 in the engine block12 is illustrated in FIGURE 6. As shown, the transverse Wall 92 extendsonly part Way above the camshaft 44. A central boss 94 receives a bolt96 which secures a cross member or clamp 98 against the tubular members62. Transverse Wall 92 is provided with semicylindrical apertures 100 toreceive the tubular members 62.

Tubular members 62 also' provide lubrication oil passages through theengine from end to end feeding oil to crankshaft, connecting rod, andcamshaft bearings in addition to the valve mechanisms including thecamshaft drive. As viewed in FIGURE 1 and shown in dotted lines,lubrication passages 102 may be provided in the transverse Wall 56,communicating with suitable apertures 104 in the tubular members 62.Likewise, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, passages 106 may extend throughtransverse wall 92 to the camshaft area, communicating With apertures108 in the tubular members 62. The lubricant may be supplied at one endor the other of the tubular members 62 by the engine lubrication system.

It is thus noted that the engine block 12 is devoid of a great amount ofmaterial in the vicinity of the engine camshaft. The usual practice hasbeen to provide solid metal above the camshaft and suitable bores formedtherein to receive and guide the valve lifter assemblies. By usingtubular members 62 it is unnecessary to provide this mass of materialabove the camshaft 44 and only a single or a few transverse Walls, as 56or 92, would be required to support tubular members 62 serving the samefunction. This permits a great deal` of weight elimination in the bulkyand heavy engine block Without sacrifice in strength. At the same time,adequate lubrication passages are provided to supply oil to'the variousengine components'.

What is claimed is:

1. In an internal combustion engine having. a camshaft and cylinders andpistons and valve means including valve lifters, an engine blockincluding:

means for mounting said camshaft longitudinally thereof and adjacentsaid cylinders;

a plurality of walls extending transversely of said block. and` aboutsaid camshaft, said walls having openings therein receiving saidcamshaft; manually releasable securing means in each of said Walls; anda tubular member extending longtiudinally of said block and parallel tosaid camshaft and spaced therefrom, said tubular member being secured insaidvWallsv by said manually releasable securing means and having aplurality of transverse openings formed therethrough for receiving andguiding said valve lifters.

2. In an internal ycombustion engine having a camshaft and cylinders andpistons and valve means including valve lifters, an engine blockincluding: means for mounting said camshaft longitudinally thereof andadjacent said cylinders; a plurality of walls extending transversel'y ofsaid block and about said camshaft, said Walls having openings thereinreceiving said camshaft; manually releasable securing means ineach ofsaid Walls;

and a pair of spaced tubular members extending longitudinally of saidblock and parallel to saidcamshaft and spaced therefrom, said tubularmembers being secured in said walls by said manually releasable securingmeans and having a plurality of transverse openings formed therethroughfor receiving and guiding said valve lifters.

3. In an internal combustion engine having a camshaft and cylinders andpistons and valve means including valve lifters, an engine blockincluding: means for mounting said camshaft on a longitudinal axistherein adjacent said cylindersga plurality of walls extendingtransversely of said block and about said camshaft, said walls havingopenings therein receiving said camshaft;

manually releasable securing means in each of said walls; and a tubularmember extending longitudinally of said block on an axis substantiallyparallel to and spaced from said longitudinal axis of said camshaft,said tubular member being secured in said Walls by said manuwalls havingopenings therein receiving said camshaft;

shaft, cylinders and manually releasable securing means in each of saidwalls; and a pair of spaced tubular members extending longitudinally ofsaid block on axes substantially parallel to and spaced from saidlongitudinal axis of said camshaft, said tubular members being securedin said Walls by said manually releasable securing means and having aplurality of transverse openings formed therethrough for receiving andguiding said valve lifters.

5'. In an internal combustion engine having a campistons, valve meansincluding valve lifters, and an engine block With lubrication passagestherein.: means for mounting said camshaft longitudinally thereof andadjacent said cylinders; a plurality of Walls extending transversely ofsaid blockY and about said camshaft, said walls having openingsthereinreceiving said camshaft; ma'uallyrreleasable securing means in`each of said Walls; and a tubular member extendinglongitudinally of saidblockand parallel to said camshaft andk spacedY therefrom, said tubularmember being secured in said walls by said manually releasable securingmeansI and having a` plurality of transverse openings formedtherethrough for receivingl and guiding the valve lifters and additionallubrication passagesformed thereinin` fluid communication with saidlubrication passages in said engine block References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,234,878 Corvin a July 31, 19171,969,590 Church s Aug. 7, 1934 2,070,806 Read 2 Feb. 16, 1937 2,781,750Chayne Feb. 19, 1957 2,793,625- Kolbe May 28, 1957 2,893,358' Bauer`Tuly 7, 1959

5. IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING A CAMSHAFT, CYLINDERS ANDPISTONS, VALVE MEANS INCLUDING VALVE LIFTERS, AND AN ENGINE BLOCK WITHLUBRICATION PASSAGES THEREIN: MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID CAMSHAFTLONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND ADJACENT SAID CYLINDERS; A PLURALITY OF WALLSEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BLOCK AND ABOUT SAID CAMSHAFT, SAID WALLSHAVING OPENINGS THEREIN RECEIVING SAID CAMSHAFT; MANUALLY RELEASABLESECURING MEANS IN EACH OF SAID WALLS; AND A TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BLOCK AND PARALLEL TO SAID CAMSHAFT AND SPACEDTHEREFROM, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER BEING SECURED IN SAID WALLS BY SAIDMANUALLY RELEASABLE SECURING MEANS AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSEOPENINGS FORMED THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING AND GUIDING THE VALVE LIFTERSAND ADDITIONAL LUBRICATION PASSAGES FORMED THEREIN IN FLUIDCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID LUBRICATION PASSAGES IN SAID ENGINE BLOCK.